BEING EFFECTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE

Being Effective and Productive. Hmmmmm? Those aren’t exactly the first words that jump to the top of my mind when I think about the transformation that takes place in each of our lives because of God’s astounding act of love on our behalf – the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yet, in our relationship and in our fellowship with Jesus, in our knowledge of Him and in what He has given to us through His Spirit and His Word, this is exactly what we are to become. Effective and productive. We were created in the image of the Lord Most High to be people of purpose – and our God intends for each of us to become effective and productive in the deepest, truest, most constantly increasing and most eternal way possible as we…

…participate in the divine nature[of Jesus Christ]. – 2 Peter 1:4

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection [kindness]; and to mutual affection [kindness], love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. – 2 Peter 1:5-9

There is no limitation to how Jesus is able to transform us, with ever increasing measure, to be more like Him in our nature, in our thoughts, words, actions and interactions.

The divine nature of Christ called us into existence – into life – in the first place.

The divine nature of Christ declares to us, and reminds us of, all our Lord Jesus has done for us through His love, His merciful forgiveness of our sins and His gift of eternal life.

The divine nature of Christ gives us everything we need to live out this life, right here and right now, as His effective and productive followers (2 Peter 1:3).

The divine nature of Christ gives us the purpose and the power to be effective and productive ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 3:20-21).

The divine nature of Christ continually fills us, increases in us and flows through us with His eternally effective and productive qualities of faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love.

May each of us seek to reflect the divine nature of Christ in all circumstances, with all people – as His transformed people, effective and productive, now and for all eternity!